Tuesday, July 26, 2011

Temptation Tuesday

Huzzah! It looks like I might just be able to stick to a schedule of sorts when it comes to posting certain things! That's really good news since it helps me keep the days straight. ^_^;;

Without further ado, let's check out what's got my mouth watering this week!


Oh what dreams I allow myself to have! I stumbled upon this beauty and one day I will have one.

 

The   Schacht Baby Wolf Weaving Loom is a beauty of a loom. I've watched various videos on weaving with it, and it looks marvelous. I can't wait to get my hands on one down the road. Until then, I think I'll set my sights on something a little more reasonable. 

Introducing the Leclerc Bergere Rigid Heddle Weaving Loom! At 24inches of width, I can easily say that this would be more than enough to keep my hunger for a good loom at bay. Check out the beauty this thing is!



Now for my Etsy pick! For those of you who didn't know, there's an SCA group on Etsy, and it's marvelous. The variety of items that are available just through that group alone is mind-boggling. This weeks pick comes from Etsy seller Woodsholme and wow. Just wow. The hand embroidered patches that she is able to create are beautiful! 


How awesome is that!? Answer: Pretty freaking awesome. Who wouldn't want one of these beauties on, let's say that cloak you just made? I know I would!

Saturday, July 23, 2011

Yay for weaving patterns!

 What a great resource I have found for all you weavers out there! Now, by weavers, I mean those who use more than just an inkle loom. Sadly, this particular website (founded in 2004) doesn't have any inkle woven patterns. Oh well, maybe someday they'll carry such things. After all, the items you can create with an inkle loom and some ingenuity can be just as complex and beautiful as any rigid heddle loom.

Check out Handweaving.net for some great ideas for your next project. I know once I get a rigid heddle loom, this is going to be my first stop. :D

Hand Weaving Drafts - Handweaving.net Hand Weaving and Draft Archive

If you sneezed while reading this little snippet of an entry, bless your face.

Tuesday, July 19, 2011

And Now For Something Comepletely Different

Just because I want to have some fun, and share an annoyingly addicting song!



And not a fuck was given that day. :D

Temptation Tuesday

I'm thinking about starting a little tradition here; Temptation Tuesday! Now, you might be wondering what that is, fear not, for I shall explain. TT is basically where at least one of my posts (hopefully) every Tuesday is about things that tempt me! Especially if I want to buy them, for a project idea I have mulling about.

Without further wait, here's what's tempting me this week!





Now, before you ask, yes I did borrow this idea of a Temptation Tuesday from another blog. It's such a great idea that I can't believe I didn't think of it!

I couldn't do a list like this and not include something that I've been drooling over since I saw it a few weeks ago, and that's one of Egil's tablet/rigid heddle looms. Oh how pretty and practical they are! *swoon*

To see all the amazing things Egil has to offer, check out his page on facebook!

Now, as I find myself clicking mindlessly on Etsy for hours, as I have a habit of doing, I happened to come across this gem. Even if I'm only dreaming, it's still a great dream to have something that awesome. MossyRoseCB has some other pretty cool things, you should totally check them out!



And then there's these

I have no clue what I would use the vase things for, but I don't care. They're just too cool! Check out Jake's Clay Art for more of his awesome designs!

Until next time,
Bless your face

Monday, July 11, 2011

Mmmm, Fiber-y Goodness And Other Delicious Projects

Hey everyone! What an amazing weekend! For those of you who don't know, this past saturday (July 9) was A Day in the Park, and it was AWESOME! I could have done without the 2 hour drive there and back, but it was well worth the trip! Classes were attended, friends were made, and good food was had. What more could a guy ask for!?

Well, first off let my gawk about the classes (formal and informal) that I took! First was learning how to spin wool on a drop spindle by Mistress Lydia. It was sooooo much fun! My only regret is that I didn't take a picture of the first yarn I spun. Oh well......... There will be more, and I hope it will be just as fun! I also watcher Mistress Lydia spin on a wheel. I didn't actually try it myself this time, but I got the concept and the theoretical motions down. All that I need to develop now is the muscle memory and technique!

Next was the lampwork bead class! Yes, I took another one and had just as much fun. ^_^ That's always a good sign. I have learned that I like the thicker mandrils for making beads on. They're just so much easier for me to turn. The thinner ones take waaaaay too much concentration for me right now. A funny thing I've noticed though, bead release has a really bad habit of not releasing my beads. I think it should be re-named. Just sayin'. Once they finish soaking so I can get them off the mandrils, I'll take pictures of them. I made three this time. One of them has this AWESOME metallic black glass. Two words; LOVE IT! 

I also took some time later on in the day to learn some viking wire weaving from Lady Serena. It was so cool! You think I'd realize the things you could make with loops, but somehow this snuck up on me! 

Now, you might be wondering what Etienne was doing this whole time. Well, fret not, I shall answer your question, you inquisitive grasshopper, you. He made a basket! It's so freaking cool!! It's most likely going to be used to store my weaving yarn, which I am totally okay with. I mean, come on, awesome basket, for my yarn, uh.......duh! I'd be stupid not to jump on that like white on me. 

Then there was the food.........*drifts off, drooling* Oh the food was so delicious! Egill Gullbjarnarson was kind enough to open up his home to host the BBQ/Potluck extravaganza! BBQ pig, various fruits and veggies and salads, and who can forget the desserts? I still want more pie <_<. Just sayin'. 

Oh!! I almost forgot! I learned how to use a marudai! It was so freaking cool!!! The ease and flow of using this device compared to the foam disk is night and day! I was able to make a lanyard on the marudai in about 1/3 of the time it  would have taken me on the foam disk. I am a convert, and I will get one now.

All in all, I had so much fun. I met a lot of people and got to know others much more. I wouldn't have traded the experiences I had this Saturday for anything. It was perfection.


Edit: Holy crap! How did I even forget that I had a display!? I displayed 7 of my woven pieces. 3 belts, 3 pieces of trip and 1 brocaded bookmark. I feel sooo silly for not remembering to put that in. >_< Quitting smoking has really made my short-term memory get messed up. Also, I got my second commission there! YAY!!

Thursday, July 7, 2011

Inspiration!

Have you ever had one of those moments where you just HAD to try something? Has it nagged you constantly until you finally gave in and tried that cruel seductress? Well, I was having one of those days today after getting my new book in the mail today!

So, for those of you who don't know, this is the book I got:

 
(This picture is of Baroness Sine's copy, not mine ^_^)


I am in love with it. There are so many things to learn, and ways to help me get the most out of weaving. Now, I haven't read through the book yet, but I have skimmed and just so happened to stumble upon, Chapter VI. Pick It Up.

JACKPOT!!

This is what I've been trying to learn for at least a month now, but online sources are scarce and videos are even harder to come by. You see why I was itching to get something done today. This something. Well......more specifically;


this something. It's a pretty little tree!
(hopefully you didn't need the explanation or else I have more work to do)

Here's the warping, excuse the heating pads under the bed <_<;;


I'm really proud of how it's turning out so far. I can't wait to try more patterns that are in the book. There are 4 different types of pick-up; Brocade, Basket weave background, spotted background (Andean Pebble Weave me thinks?) and horizontal stripe background. Each style has many different selections of patterns to choose from! So much to do, so little time!!

I should be off! Time to head to A&S night where I can get some of these patterns written down to finish this piece!

Twinkle Twinkle

Sorry I haven't updated in a while guys! Everything has been so hectic lately and time just ran away from me. I'll be catching up (hopefully today or tomorrow), but until then, here's a little something.


Okay, so I just got my copy of Inkle Weaving by Helene Bress in the mail yesterday, and I'm so excited! I feel a little spoiled getting it, but if that's what it takes to make me feel spoiled, I don't think Etienne has much to worry about. Hehe.

So, since I haven't updated in a while, I figured I'd share a little poem that is in the book. I love it, and I so want to weave this into a wall tapestry or something. <3

Inkle, inkle, little band
How I wonder in what land
Someone first did you create
And your name originate.

Your illusive history
Seems to shroud in mystery
Place and time and even spelling
But this question's most compelling:

Why am I so fascinated
By your patterns complicated?
By what force are modern hands
Charmed with making ancient bands?

Wound on pegs with loops of string,
Threads become a useful thing,
Either plain or fancy bordered
Formed by the way the threads are ordered.

Now I wonder, having started,
How from this can I be parted?
For I'd gladly weave away,
Inkle, inkle all the day.

~Doramay Keasbey


I love it!!! I totally have some planning to do if that's going to be hanging on my wall someday.

Until next time (which is hopefully soon),
Bless your face